What are the causes of skin cancer?

In brief:
Causes of skin cancer

The main risk factor for any type of skin cancer is exposure to the intense ultraviolet light of sunshine.

It is particularly common in places where the sun is strong such as Australia, and less common in people with dark skin. People at increased risk tend to have:

• a family history of skin cancer• skin which has a lot of moles• fair skin and blue eyes• freckles• skin that burns easily• skin that has been badly sunburned in the last five years• skin exposed intermittently to strong sunshine (or sun beds)

In brief:
Causes of skin cancer

The main risk factor for any type of skin cancer is exposure to the intense ultraviolet light of sunshine.

It is particularly common in places where the sun is strong such as Australia, and less common in people with dark skin. People at increased risk tend to have:

• a family history of skin cancer• skin which has a lot of moles• fair skin and blue eyes• freckles• skin that burns easily• skin that has been badly sunburned in the last five years• skin exposed intermittently to strong sunshine (or sun beds)
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